Method of and apparatus for recording and reading radiation image

Abstract

The radiation image of a subject such as a human spine is recorded on and read from a stimulable phosphor sheet which is circulated in a radiation image recording and reading apparatus. The stimulable phosphor sheet with the radiation image recorded thereon is fed to an image reading unit in which stimulating light is applied to the stimulable phosphor sheet to cause the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light representative of the recorded radiation image. Then, the stimulable phosphor sheet is fed to and past an erasing unit, which applies erasing light to the stimulable phosphor sheet to erase any residual radiation image information from the stimulable phosphor sheet in the erasing unit, while feeding the stimulable phosphor sheet back past the erasing unit. The stimulable phosphor sheet is held in readiness for recording another radiation image thereon after the residual image information has been erased, and thereafter, the stimulable phosphor sheet is fed to an image recording unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of recording and reading a radiation image on and from a stimulable phosphor sheet, comprising the steps of: recording a radiation image on a stimulable phosphor sheet in an image recording unit;   feeding the stimulable phosphor sheet to an image reading unit;   applying stimulating light to the stimulable phosphor sheet to cause the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light representative of the recorded radiation image in said image reading unit;   feeding the stimulable phosphor sheet in one direction to and past an erasing unit;   applying erasing light to the stimulable phosphor sheet to erase any residual radiation image information from the stimulable phosphor sheet in said erasing unit, while feeding the stimulable phosphor sheet back past said erasing unit in a second direction opposite to said one direction;   holding the stimulable phosphor sheet in readiness for recording another radiation image thereon after the residual image information has been erased; and   thereafter, feeding the stimulable phosphor sheet to said image recording unit for again applying erasing light thereto.   
     
     
       2. A method according to claim 1, further including the steps of: holding first and second stimulable phosphor sheets at least between said erasing unit and said image reading unit; and   feeding said first stimulable phosphor sheet past said erasing unit to said image recording unit when a third stimulable phosphor sheet with a radiation image recorded thereon is fed from said image recording unit to said image reading unit.   
     
     
       3. A method according to claim 2, further including the steps of: after said first stimulable phosphor sheet is fed to said image recording unit, displacing said second stimulable phosphor sheet to said image reading unit, and then feeding said second stimulable phosphor sheet to said erasing unit.   
     
     
       4. A method according to any one of claims 1 through 3, further including the step of: reading the radiation image from said stimulable phosphor sheet or one of said first, second, and third stimulable phosphor sheets, while applying erasing light to another stimulable phosphor sheet or another of said first, second, and third stimulable phosphor sheets to erase the residual radiation image information therefrom.   
     
     
       5. An apparatus for recording and reading a radiation image on and from a stimulable phosphor sheet, comprising: an image recording unit for recording a radiation image on a stimulable phosphor sheet;   an image reading unit for applying stimulating light to the stimulable phosphor sheet to cause the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light representative of the recorded radiation image.,   an erasing unit for applying erasing light to the stimulable phosphor sheet to erase any residual radiation image information from the stimulable phosphor sheet;   a feed path interconnecting said image recording unit, said image reading unit, and said erasing unit;   first, second, and third standby zones disposed in said feed path for holding stimulable phosphor sheets respectively therein;   said first standby zone being positioned in combination with said image recording unit;   said second standby zone being positioned downstream of said image reading unit with respect to said feed path; and   said third standby zone being positioned to hold a stimulable phosphor sheet which has been fed to and past said erasing unit and then fed back past said erasing unit while the residual radiation image information is erased from the stimulable phosphor sheet by said erasing unit.   
     
     
       6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said third standby zone is straight in shape for holding the stimulable ghosphor sheet in a straight configuration in readiness for recording another radiation image thereon, after the residual radiation image information has been erased therefrom. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said second standby zone extends substantially parallel to said third standby zone, further including a selective switchover path by which said second and third standby zones are interconnected. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said second standby zone extends substantially parallel to said third standby zone, further including a selective switchover path by which said second and third standby zones are interconnected. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein each of said second and third standby zones is long enough to store an elongate stimulable phosphor sheet therein which is at least as long as a human spine, without bending or flexing the stimulable phosphor sheet. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein each of said second and third standby zones is long enough to store an elongate stimulable phosphor sheet therein which is at least as long as a human spine, without bending or flexing the stimulable phosphor sheet.